Best Single Malt Scotch
 

So I am going for drinks with a prospective client. I was forewarned that he is obsessive about single malt scotch. Personally, it doesn’t really matter to me but I want to order a drink that will impress him. What’s the best single malt scotch out there? Thanks for the info.

There is not a best. The whole point is that there are many types to fit many tastes.

Despite the single malt craze, I have gone back to the high quality blends. Whisky has been blended for years for a good reason. As many as 50 different whiskys can be blended in order to produce a consistant and smooth end product. But a good blend costs as much as the good single malts. I have become partial to Johnny Walker Black for scotch and Old Bushmills, Black for Irish.


But if your client is into single malts, you need to stick with those. The MacCallan is consistantly good, and can be found everywhere. I think Dalwhinne is a good smooth choice for those who usually choose blends. It is pretty widely available as well. At a bar with a good list, there will be many more available. It has been sometime since I studied this much. If I recall correctly, those from the Lowlands tend to be smoother and those from the Highlands tend to have more peat.

Bottom line, try several and stick with what you like, not what is popular.

i love Oban 14. you can't go wrong with glenfiddich, it is almost always stocked. the glen morangie is also very good.

but greytone is right... go somewhere with a good selection and enjoy sampling several varieties for the evening. go somewhere where you can puff a good stogie and drink plenty of water so you don't get sloshed. it's never a good idea to get faced while having business drinks. no matter how much fun it is at the time, it always bites you in the ass down the line.

Its not the best but i like The GlenLivet 12 is pretty smooth and I like it. 18 is a littel more robust.

Ive always heard that anything with 'Glen' in the name was pretty damn good stuff.

My all time favourite is Laproaig i think it is 12 years.. Verry smoky Islay single malt.

I must agree with gibingus.
I prefer Oban 14 - probably what gold tastes like :-)
Glenfiddich is also a good choice, though a little smokier.

If you need to get hair on your chest real quick, try the Lagavulin. Its full of flavours and make you feel like you've just licked an ashtray clean.. very smoky, rough taste - dark colour. (My wife refuse to kiss me for some time after i've enjoed a sip of Lagavulin - its that smoky)

i usually just go for the tried and true glenfiddich

To me, Glenlivet is much smoother than Glenfiddich. Glenlivet is like chocolate milk, so smooth. I think it tastes smoother than many 18 yr old and even 21 yr old single malts I've tried...

Wanna impress him? Order the Balvenie 21. Be prepared to pay for it out the nose.

Other Scotches I like:

Highland Park - Very peaty, like drinking dirt.
Lagavulin - Smokey and stout
Macallan - Good drinking scotch

Older is better (and more expensive).

Having visited the distillery (lucky me :)), I'm a die hard Glenfiddich man, however the Laphraig is a lovely peaty, smoky malt...

It's hard to judge someone else's scotch taste though, as they each have individual characteristics and character.

The one I like the most is called Tomatin. Haven't found it in the states yet. had it when we went over to Scotland to see family and our 10 yr anv. Must be good my wife Loved it.. too. =(

Don't!!!! Balvenie Portwood! 21 yrs old.
I love that stuff but can rarely afford it.

I tend to stick to the 15 yr old single barrel Balvenie, when I can get it. 12 yr old Doublewood isn't bad either.

I once got hold of some 25 yr old single barrel. The pub had received it by accident and was selling it at 15 yr old prices. It was as smooth as chocolate with an aroma to match. Heaven. I was so disapointed when it was all gone.

Glenfiddich is like the cocca cola of malts, common as muck but still a fine drink nevertheless.

Jamesons do the only Irish single malt and very fine it is too.

I can't advise on the peat tasting malts as I don't like them. Laphoraig is like drinking medicine.
Glen morangie is highly respected but still not to my taste.

Remy Martin is another tipple of mine. Not whisky but Champagne Cognac. Nectar.